Travel: Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah — Leslie Carvitto Photography

Half asleep and barely responsive, eight of us piled into one car headed for Salt Lake City, Utah in mid July. Departure time was 4:15am and Google maps informed us we had 13 hours of time to fill as we ventured across three state borderlines. And, those 13 hours did not include bathroom and snack breaks!

This was our journey to Outdoor Retailer, the trade show that welcomes retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and outdoor industry professionals to gather in one place and talk about trends, make connections and build brands.

I was excited to partake in the festivities this year after hearing the legendary tales of OR Summer 2016. Though, one of the most notorious parts of the trip had zero to do with the trade show. It was the epic camp trip in the desert that occurred right after. Destination? Bonneville Salt Flats.

Said to be one of the most unique natural features in Utah, Bonneville Salt Flat is east of Salt Lake City along I-80. It stretches over 30,000 acres and was formed when the ancient lake Lake Bonneville dried up.

The fragile environment changes from completely desolate to flourishing, dotted with desert plants and curious animals. Designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern in 1985, the flats are administered by the Bureau of Land Management and overnight stays are prohibited. However, camping is encouraged on surrounding BLM public lands.

So as Outdoor Retailer 2017 came to an end, friends, friends of friends, and even a few strangers began the drive east for a night filled with tacos, games, storytelling, an unforgettable sunset and a peaceful sleep under the stars.

Along with the images I captured, I’ve sprinkled in some of my favorite photos from my fellow campers. Links to their portfolios are provided upon hover of the image and I urge you to check out their creative work.

Photo by Where to Willie — Photo by **Where to Willie**